Oximetry probe and method of operating the same, and oximetry sensor

Abstract

An oximetry probe and an operating method thereof, and an oximetry sensor. The oximetry probe includes an oximetry sensor which includes a detection end and an output end, and an adapter. The detection end includes a photodetector and multiple light-emitting elements connected in series. The output end has multiple output ports. Adjacent output ports are electrically connected to two sides of the corresponding light-emitting element. The adapter has a first adapter end and a second adapter end between which multiple wires are provided. The first adapter end is electrically connected with an input end of the monitor. When the second adapter end is connected to the output end, the wires are electrically connected with the output ports to form closed circuit to enable the light-emitting element to emit light which is received by the photodetector to generate a signal involving blood oxygen saturation to be displayed on the monitor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oximetry probe, comprising:
 an oximetry sensor; and 
 an adapter; 
 wherein the oximetry sensor comprises a detection end and an output end; the detection end comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting elements capable of independently emitting light beams of different peak wavelengths; the light emitting elements are connected in series; the output end has a plurality of output ports; two adjacent output ports are electrically connected to two sides of the corresponding light emitting element, respectively; 
 the adapter has a first adapter end and a second adapter end; the first adapter end is configured to adapt to an input end of a target monitor; the second adapter end is configured to adapt to the output end of the oximetry sensor; a plurality of first wires are provided between the second adapter end and the first adapter end; the first adapter end is electrically connected with the input end of the target monitor to allow one end of each first wire to be electrically connected with a corresponding input port at the input end of the target monitor; the output ports are greater than the first wires in number; when the second adapter end is connected to the output end, the other end of each first wire is electrically connected with the corresponding output port to form a closed circuit, so as to enable the light emitting element between the two adjacent output ports in the closed circuit to emit light, and the emitted light is received by the photodetector to generate a detection signal associated with a blood oxygen saturation of a patient which is displayed on the target monitor. 
 
     
     
       2. The oximetry probe of  claim 1 , wherein there are N light emitting elements, and N is greater than or equal to 3; the N light emitting elements are connected in series; N+1 connection ports are provided at the detection end of the oximetry sensor; the two adjacent connection ports are located at two sides of the corresponding light emitting element, respectively; the output end of the oximetry sensor has N+1 output ports in one-to-one correspondence to the N+1 connection ports; and each connection port is electrically connected with the corresponding output port of the output end. 
     
     
       3. The oximetry probe of  claim 2 , wherein the oximetry sensor further comprises a cable; the cable has N+1 second wires; and the second wires connect each connection port with the corresponding output port, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The oximetry probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first wires are the same as input ports of the target monitor in number; the first adapter end has a plurality of first adapter ports; and the first adapter ports are the same as the first wires in number. 
     
     
       5. The oximetry probe of  claim 4 , wherein the second adapter end of the adapter has a plurality of second adapter ports; and the second adapter ports are the same as the output ports of the output end in number. 
     
     
       6. The oximetry probe of  claim 1 , wherein the first adapter end is configured to connect with the input end of the target monitor or to connect with an external adapter connected to the input end of the target monitor. 
     
     
       7. The oximetry probe of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting elements comprise at least two red light emitting diodes and at least one infrared light emitting diode; the at least two red light emitting diodes are connected in series to form a first series circuit; the at least one infrared light emitting diode is connected in series to form a second series circuit; the first series circuit is connected in series with the second series circuit; or
 the light emitting elements comprise at least one red light emitting diode and at least two infrared light emitting diodes; the at least one red light emitting diode is connected in series to form a first series circuit; the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are connected in series to form a second series circuit; the first series circuit is connected in series with the second series circuit. 
 
     
     
       8. The oximetry probe of  claim 7 , wherein the detection end further comprises a circuit board; and
 the at least two red light emitting diodes and the at least one infrared light emitting diode are welded to the circuit board; or 
 the at least one red light emitting diode and the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       9. The oximetry probe of  claim 7 , wherein the detection end further comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board; and
 the at least two red light emitting diodes are welded to the first circuit board and the at least one infrared light emitting diode is welded to the second circuit board; or 
 the at least one red light emitting diode is welded to the first circuit board and the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the second circuit board. 
 
     
     
       10. The oximetry probe of  claim 7 , wherein the detection end further comprises at least two first circuit boards and at least one second circuit board; the at least two red light emitting diodes are welded to the at least two first circuit boards in one-to-one correspondence; the at least one infrared light emitting diode is welded to the at least one second circuit board in one-to-one correspondence; or
 the detection end further comprises at least one first circuit board and at least two second circuit boards; the at least one red light emitting diode is welded to the at least one first circuit board in one-to-one correspondence; the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the at least two second circuit boards in one-to-one correspondence. 
 
     
     
       11. The oximetry probe of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting elements are light emitting diode (LED) lights. 
     
     
       12. A method of operating the oximetry probe of  claim 1 , comprising:
 (1) connecting the first adapter end to the target monitor to allow one end of each first wire to be electrically connected with the corresponding input port of the target monitor; 
 (2) connecting the second adapter end with the output end to allow the other end of each first wire to be electrically connected with the corresponding output port to form a closed circuit to enable the light emitting element between the two adjacent output ports in the closed circuit to emit light; 
 (3) receiving, by the photodetector, the emitted light to generate a detection signal associated with a blood oxygen saturation of a patient; and displaying the detection signal on the target monitor; 
 (4) when it is required to replace the target monitor with another monitor for blood oxygen monitoring, disconnecting the output end from the second adapter end of the adapter; and 
 (5) connecting the output end to a second adapter end of another adapter connected with the another monitor to enable the electric connection of the corresponding light emitting element; receiving, by the photodetector, the light emitted from the corresponding light emitting element to generate a detection signal associated with the blood oxygen saturation of the patient; and displaying the detection signal on the another monitor. 
 
     
     
       13. An oximetry sensor, comprising:
 a detection end; and 
 an output end; 
 wherein the detection end comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting elements capable of independently emitting light beams of different peak wavelengths; the light emitting elements are connected in series; the output end has a plurality of output ports; two adjacent output ports are electrically connected to two sides of the corresponding light emitting element, respectively; and the output ports are used for electrical connection with an adapter of a monitor; and 
 there are N light emitting elements, and N is greater than or equal to 3; the N light emitting elements are connected in series; N+1 connection ports are provided at the detection end of the oximetry sensor; the two adjacent connection ports are located at two sides of the corresponding light emitting element, respectively; the output end has N+1 output ports in one-to-one correspondence to the connection ports; and each connection port is electrically connected with the corresponding output port. 
 
     
     
       14. The oximetry sensor of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a cable; 
 wherein the cable has N+1 wires; and the wires connect each connection port with the corresponding output port, respectively. 
 
     
     
       15. The oximetry sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the light emitting elements comprise at least two red light emitting diodes and at least one infrared light emitting diode; the at least two red light emitting diodes are connected in series to form a first series circuit; the at least one infrared light emitting diode is connected in series to form a second series circuit; the first series circuit is connected in series with the second series circuit; or
 the light emitting elements comprise at least one red light emitting diode and at least two infrared light emitting diodes; the at least one red light emitting diode is connected in series to form a first series circuit; the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are connected in series to form a second series circuit; the first series circuit is connected in series with the second series circuit. 
 
     
     
       16. The oximetry sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the detection end further comprises a circuit board; and
 the at least two red light emitting diodes and the at least one infrared light emitting diode are welded to the circuit board; or 
 the at least one red light emitting diode and the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the circuit board. 
 
     
     
       17. The oximetry sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the detection end further comprises a first circuit board and a second circuit board; and
 the at least two red light emitting diodes are welded to the first circuit board and the at least one infrared light emitting diode is welded to the second circuit board; or 
 the at least one red light emitting diode is welded to the first circuit board and the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the second circuit board. 
 
     
     
       18. The oximetry sensor of  claim 15 , wherein the detection end further comprises at least two first circuit boards and at least one second circuit board; the at least two red light emitting diodes are welded to the at least two first circuit boards in one-to-one correspondence; the at least one infrared light emitting diode is welded to the at least one second circuit board in one-to-one correspondence; or
 the detection end further comprises at least one first circuit board and at least two second circuit boards; the at least one red light emitting diode is welded to the at least one first circuit board in one-to-one correspondence; the at least two infrared light emitting diodes are welded to the at least two second circuit boards in one-to-one correspondence. 
 
     
     
       19. The oximetry sensor of  claim 13 , wherein the light emitting elements are light emitting diode (LED) lights.